The antiproliferative effect of fractionized radiation therapy: optimization of dosage.

Fractionized radiation therapy with high-energy electrons have proven to reduce retinal detachment rate from 85% to 5% in the fibroblast model using a dosage of 3000 rad, starting from the first postoperative day. The purpose of this study is to gain more information about the therapeutic range of fractionized radiation therapy in experimental PVR. We therefore investigated the efficacy of this therapy when the total dose is reduced to 2000 rad. Irradiation treatment started on the first postoperative day. Eight weeks after cell implantation 5 of 14 eyes (35%) in the irradiated group and 15 of 16 eyes of the control group (93%) showed traction detachment. The statistically significant result proves a broad therapeutic range of fractionized radiation therapy in experimental PVR. We believe that a combination with antiinflammatory drugs could lead to a dose reduction in both therapies in patients.